For most rock musicians, it would have been enough: 29 songs, spread over more than three hours.
But after playing "American Land," the 29th number of his Sunday night concert at Giants Stadium, Bruce Springsteen couldn't resist adding one more: crowd favorite "Rosalita." By the end of the song, he was lying on his back, spinning around as he played.

It was a perfect end to a generous and high-spirited show, the first of three Springsteen and his E Street Band will present at the stadium (the others take place tonight and Thursday).

Thunderstorms hit the area earlier in the day, but by the time Springsteen took the stage, the sky was clear and the air was pleasantly cool. "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," which opened the show, felt like a fanfare. "Can you feel the spirit," Springsteen asked, like a gospel preacher, before "Spirit in the Night." A cover of the Eddie Cochran rockabilly classic "Summertime Blues" represented a bit of good-natured fun amid Springsteen's generally more serious compositions.

"Growin' Up" was performed at the request of a fan, who wrote the title on a sign along with the words "10 Yr. Old Fan" and "P.S.: My Name Is Rosie." Springsteen noted that the song was written a quarter century before she was born.

The next song, "Janey Don't You Lose Heart," was a request-via-sign too.

"Brilliant Disguise" and "Tunnel of Love" spotlighted Patti Scialfa's harmony vocals. The show's most impressive guitar solos came on "Youngstown" and the song that followed it, "Murder Incorporated"; Nils Lofgren was given his longest showcase of the night on the former, while Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt traded memorable solos on the latter.

Even before "Rosalita," the encores were special, with the band investing the dark epic "Jungleland" with all the majesty it requires, and roaring through Springsteen signature tunes like "Born To Run" (with the house lights on) and "Dancing in the Dark."

Springsteen and the band had previously presented 16 shows at Giants Stadium -- six in 1985, and 10 in 2003. The current stand will likely be their last at this venue; the stadium is scheduled to be demolished in 2010.

The show kicked off the last leg of the band's "Magic Tour," which followed the release of Springsteen's "Magic" album, in the fall. Tickets to tonight's and Thursday's shows are $65 and $95. Call (201) 507-8900 or visit ticketmaster.com.